Territory / Map

Flags are symbols of unity. Nationalism. At worst: jingoism and shrouds for caskets. To plant aflag is to claim the place – whether justly or not. To protest with the flag of another expresses solidarity, empathy -- for the protestors may have experienced similar injustices. Flags declare borders. Maps delineate them.

Maps offer directions, guide us to our destinations, show the road, or compass the skies. Maps are also distortions. Hypnotic. Fantastical. Wishful. Oversimplified. They contour the geographies of power, money, commercial globalization. Roadmaps to “peace” can be empty topographies.

Palestinian territory – the area now defined as Israel, the West Bank, and the Gaza Strip -- has been occupied variously since before the birth of Christ. Among the many: the Great Seljuk Empire (1073-1098) … Crusaders (1099-1187) … the Ottoman Empire (1516-1917) … the British Empire (1917-1947) … the State of Israel (1948-present).

Fluid, fragmented maps.

Irish territory was partly occupied by the Anglo-Normans in the 12th century (and later by theBritish during the Tudor period), for nearly 800 years. Finally, freedom in 1922, but part of North stayed behind with the creation of Northern Ireland. Partition.

A sliced map.

In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue – though some believe that, long before, Irish monks paddling little round curachs paid a visit to Turtle Island, said hello, and then went home. Columbus planted a flag and drew a map that each subsequent invader and every generation has enlarged across the continents, north and south. The territory diminished.